Others write about us: Scholar from Poland on researching words and achieving peace

Hi everyone! My name is Dominika Dziurosz-Serafinowicz and I am The International Visegrad Fund Scholar. I came to Montenegro with my research project “Language – Morality – Peace. In search of eudaimonical codes of personal conduct in regard to usage of words” run at Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić  (University of Montenegro).

My aim is to collect moral directives connected with both – a tranquil mind and a proper verbal conduct. The intellectual guide of this project is an idea derived from an Ancient philosopher, Pythagoras, who claimed: “Be silent or say something better that silence”, which one can find also in Confucian teaching: “1. The Master said, “I would prefer not speaking." 2. Tsze-kung said, "If you, Master, do not speak, what shall we, your disciples, have to record?" 3. The Master said, "Does Heaven speak? The four seasons pursue their courses, and all things are continually being produced, but does Heaven say anything?"”.

As it is easily noticed, there are positive and negative sides of speech acts, and our use of words often prompts reactions, like: “Watch your mouth!”. In this research I concentrate on the moral aspects of language and ethics of word, with giving a special concern to eudaimonism understood as a domain searching of a way for a happy life and a calm state of mindsoul. I analyze personal codes of conduct derived from moral, religious and philosophical systems which concern language and speech. Moreover, an analysis of the link between the usage of language and tranquility of mind is run. The research has a theoretical framework and presents connection between a lack of tranquility and an excessive usage of words.

 It’s worth noticing that in various philosophical and religious traditions one can find receipts for running a happy life. Many of them underline that having a joyful existence requires achieving a mental equilibrium. Among others, Epicurean ataraxia, Seneca’s athambia, Swedish lagom, Democritean euthymia, Confucian jing, Buddhist nirvana, Śaṅkara’s  antaḥkaraṇaśuddhi, Stoic apatheia, Toltec impeccability, Cynic autarkeia, – all those terms, more or less, express the same idea of a peaceful soul. One important way of answering the research question would consist in scrutiny of directives concerning the performance of word studied in eudaimonism. The purpose of the consideration of such sets of guidelines in practice of using words and analysis of various codes of verbal conduct is to guarantee that we will basically achieve both – peaceful mind and joyful life also by application some “hygiene of language”.

I have tried to get this scholarship twice, and the second round was lucky for me, of which I am very grateful. For some time now, governments of the V4-countries have enabled scholars to get the mobility support through Visegrad Grants also to Western Balkans. I took my chance with Montenegro which attracted me by some kind of mysterious beauty, I would say. And my intuition have not failed me. Montenegro is a country which encompasses nearly every continent. Podgorica surrounding resembles the African savannas, The Lake Skadar looks like Asian landscapes, The Canyon of Tara River reminds of North-American grand canyons, and The Kotor Bay is like South-American coastal – all in the heart of Europe! And, just look around – maybe You will see an Australian dingo… I am also thrilled by the monumental power of the here mountains which spread throughout the whole country.  What’s more,  I am glad that I get along with the UCG academic community easily.  Of much support for me were deans of The Faculty of Philosophy in Nikšić, The International Cooperation and Mobility Office in Podgorica and members of The Institute for Advanced Studies at The University of Montenegro, to whom all I am very thankful. I look forward to a further cooperation.

The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.